Love Lesson
Romans 6:1-3 - What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
Do you remember how good it felt the last time you forgave someone? Remember that warm feeling that said “I just did something good for someone else and now I feel pretty good too?”
Forgiving others is certainly a very God-pleasing thing to do. Forgiveness is, after all, one of the great attributes of God himself. His forgiveness allows us to be a part of his kingdom. We are his saved children only because of his forgiving love.
Human logic then follows, in a twisted kind of way, that if we see God’s greatness in his forgiveness that we will increase the greatness of his grace by sinning more and calling for more forgiveness. In other words, the more we sin the more gracious God is. Right? Wrong! Paul quickly points out in the text that as baptized children of Christ we are now partners in his death. Through his death and resurrection sin has been defeated. It no longer controls us. The life we now live we live out of love for the one who brings us forgiveness.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: Given what our human logic comes up with, why is it important to stay in God's Word? How does this section of Scripture deepen your appreciation for Baptism, which may have been when you were a baby?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Ask God for forgiveness for the times you have misused His grace. Ask God to move you to live for him and through him rather than for yourself or you sinful nature.